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If you talk to DJs both old and new about the Technics 1200 turntable, you'll quickly realize just how legendary the deck truly was. Last year, Panasonic revived the Technics brand, and customers the world over had one question: "Where's the 1200?" Passionate fans even went to far as to sign petitions to let Panasonic know that they wanted to see the iconic record player make a triumphant return. At CES 2016, they got their wish, as the Technics SL-1200G and SL-1200GAE were announced, and they've been improved over all of the previous models.

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As many folks know, we're big fans of headphones here at Gear Live. We live in a portable world, with portable entertainment available at our fingertips, and we wanna make sure we have great sound when we are on the go. At CES 2016, Panasonic's Technics brand showcased a pair of headphones that may have been the best I've ever heard - the Technics EAH-T700.

If you've been an early adopter of smart home technology, you've probably recognized just how cumbersome it all can be. As cool and futuristic as the devices themselves are, it gets old having to jump in and out of multiple apps in order to turn on your smart lights, lock your smart lock-equipped door, set your security system, manage your thermostat, etc. In fact, the average home has over 100 devices that can potentially connect to the Internet, as I learned when Panasonic told me about its Ora technology that looks to power the smart home of the future.

The sun will set on 2015 in just a few hours, and we are just in time with our annual top 10 list of the most-watched Gear Live video episodes. Over the past year, as expected, there was a bunch of Apple gear that made the list, with the release of the 4th generation Apple TV and Apple Watch. The launch of the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox was big with our viewers as well, appearing in our top 10 twice! Other items, like the New Nintendo 3DS XL, Alienware Steam Machine, and Toyota Entune platform also proved popular as well.

Oh, and if you wanna be sure to get our new video episodes as they come out in 2015, be sure to subscribe to us (free!) on YouTube, or in iTunes.

We've come to the end of another year, and as we wave goodbye to 2013, we figured it was only fitting that we share the most popular stories published on Gear Live this year, as determined by our readers (we've also got the top ten most read stories regardless of publish date, as well as the ten most popular Gear Live videos of 2013!) These are the ten stories that were read the most, and when you consider that fact, it's pretty surprising to see what made the list. Let's kick it off with our most read story of the year:

If you wanna kick up your Halloween festivities, you may be able to do so with some of the smart home gadgets and consumer electronics that you already have in your posession. One example is using your Hue lights to simulate a thunderstorm or fire happening in your home, which I've been enjoying for the past few days. The ambiance can be enjoyed both from inside the house, as well as by people passing by (especially with a connected Bluetooth speaker chiming in with sound effects, pointed outside an open window!)

For more inspiration, Best Buy has compiled five videos that show how you can use different pieces of technology that you can use to put together you own scary holiday scenes. The one I liked most is the Haunted House Wicked Washroom, where you use Philips Hue lights, a Bluetooth speaker with ambient lighting, and Belkin WeMo smart plugs to allow you to turn on plugged in gadgets remotely. Head on over to Best Buy to check out all five video tutorials.

Remember that BB-8 Star Wars Droid made by Sphero that took over the Internet back on Force Friday? Well, we thought we'd bring you guys a giveaway so you can win a Star Wars BB-8 Sphero Droid of your very own! They are hard to find, but we've got two of them here that we're giving away to two of our YouTube subscribers. I've teamed up with two of my favorite YouTubers, Chris Pirillo and Erica Griffin, to bring this giveaway to you.

Rules to enter are listed below, or you can just watch the video for all the details! Enjoy!

Microsoft is set to release the remastered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One in just over a week, and today the launch trailer was released, bringing back the Mad World title track that was used years ago with the original. You can watch the trailer after the break, which includes all new in-game footage that shows just how great Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is going to look once it hits Xbox One consoles. The original Mad World trailer is recognized as one of the most memorable video game trailers of all time, due to its use of emotion to convey the heavy situation that the Gears would be facing.

The Amazon Kindle Voyage brings you 300 pixels per inch - a nice, high-resolution e-ink display. There is an adaptive front light, ambient light sensor that adjusts the backlight on its own, depending on your lighting conditions. It's also the lightest and thinnest Kindle ereader that Amazon offers - this is the top of the line model.

As far as pricing goes, it starts at $199 for the Wi-Fi model with special offers, or $219 without special offers. If you need a model with 3G connectivity, those cost $269 with special offers, or $289 without.